Lake Travis High School

Principles of Engineering 3A
Compound Mechanisms Lab

Performed By:
Drew Conyers
Date Performed:
Date Due:
Date Submitted:
Grade_________

9/12
9/15
9/15

Instructor: Justin Hollenberger

ABSTRACT

A compound mechanism that is used through a gear train to rotate a crane that supports a pulley,
moving a level with applied force. The use of this mechanism would be used practically in
construction, allowing for high objects to be lifted to a higher floor from the support of great
mechanical advantage, and the ability for the crane to rotate in a 360 degree radius.
OBJECTIVES

Create a mechanism provided only by one human input. The final design must include a
minimum of three mechanisms, including any simple machine, a gear system, pulley or belt system, or
sprocket and chain systems. The compound machine must have a mechanical advantage greater than
one. Mechanism must serve a purpose.
1.
Title
Compound Mechanisms of Simple Machines
2.
Introduction / Purpose
This lab explains the use of simple machines to create compound mechanisms. Compound
mechanisms are the arrangement of connected parts of a machine, for a larger machine. In this
investigation the purpose was to create a machine with a mechanical advantage greater than one,
allowing the user to require less work to operate the machine. The ideal mechanical advantage can
be found through the gear ratios used in the mechanism, 32:16|32:64, mechanical advantage of two.
3.
Apparatus
Parts used to create the compound mechanism in the lab were basic vex parts. The custom base
plate of two steel vex parts, providing the foundation to gear trains axle basis. The gears used were
basic vex parts, a 16 toothed gear, two 32 teethed gears, and one 64 toothed gear, this train is used
to make the mechanical advantage of two in the machine. Driving these gears is a standoff gear
crank, allowing the user to make an easier turn of the gears. The pulley section of the design is
based on the pulley vex part, and a steel plate, providing the structure of the rotating crane section.
The lever that is being controlled by the gear train and the pulley system is made from two steel
base vex parts and a axle, connected to the pulley system.

4.
Procedure
Investigate available equipment components and possible configurations. Brainstorm ideas for
accomplishing the assigned task, and record at least three ideas in engineering notebook. Create a
sketch and annotate a design solution including mechanical advantage. Build, test, and modify the
compound mechanism. Sketch and design a final design solution including mechanical advantage
and drive ratios. Document data from the lab in a report and design in the engineering notebook.
5.
Data
The ideal mechanical advantage in the design from the gear ratios is 2, from the gear ratio 32:16|
32:64.
(32/16)(64/32)=2 IMA
6.
Results
From the lab, it can be determined that the use of a gear train and pulley moving a lever is twice as
effective as moving the lever from hand. The IMA of the compound mechanism is 2 making the
mechanism very effective in when in the real world use of construction. The final product is seen as
in the picture a compound mechanism with a gear train moving a crane allowing the pulley to lift
the lever, as to move a construction item from a high level to a higher lever of floors.

7.
Discussion or Analysis
The Data section contains numbers. The Analysis section contains any calculations you made based
on those numbers. This is where you interpret the data and determine whether or not a hypothesis
was accepted. This is also where you would discuss any mistakes you might have made while
conducting the investigation. You may wish to describe ways the study might have been improved.
8.
Conclusions
The lab produced was effective as it only had one source of human input, has three mechanisms,
compound gear train, pulley system, crane rotation, and lever, and produces a mechanical advantage
greater than one, with an ideal mechanical advantage of 2, 32:16|32:64 gear ratio. The lab produced
shows how compound mechanisms when put together can produce a effect of less work than when
previously offered only with human input. The mechanism serves the purpose of a construction tool

that allows the user to move an object at a high level to a higher level. Practical use would be in the
construction of a skyscraper or when building a large structure.